Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Real Madrid: Five Talking Points

Real Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season came to a juddering halt after a nervy 1-1 draw to Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames. Isco came off the bench to rescue a point for the Whites after Iker Muniain put the hosts ahead against the run of play just after the half hour mark.

Los Blancos desperately needed those three points after arch-rivals Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Sociedad earlier in the day, but were guilty of missing some really good chances. Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio all fluffed their lines at varying points in time as Julen Lopetegui's league tenure hits its first stumbling block.

All the major talking points from the clash:

#1 Real Madrid paid the price for wastefulness

Ramos wasted a glorious chance in the second-half

Unlike what we've seen so far from the team in the league, this game was marked by some glaring profligacy. The Merengues were undone by frustrating wastefulness for most of the game and were eventually made to pay the price for the same. It all started when Ramos blasted an effort straight into Unai Simon when the Bilbao shot-stopper spilled a save from Asensio's freekick into his path.

The Blancos skipper had nobody to put pressure on him and had the goal's mercy, yet, brazenly leathered an effort at him and wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to restore parity in the second half (and also make it three strikes in a row for the first time in his career). Until then, the visitors were denied only by the dexterity of Simon but had only themselves to blame for the failure. Asensio raced clear at goal and he too hit it straight at Simon, before Benzema blasted the follow-up into row Z.

The desperation for the winner was pretty clear, and that was actually Madrid's own undoing. This hell for a leather approach for that one winning goal saw so many chances squandered, and also resulted into some nervy moments at the back when Bilbao threatened on the counter. Benzema was a recipient of a good cross late in the game but failed to connect with it as another chance went begging.

#2 Bilbao execute their plan to perfection

Modric wasn't given a moment of breathing space by Bilbao

Eduardo Berizzo had devised a plan before the match and his team executed it perfectly. It was to press the visitors high up so that the likes of Modric and Kroos won't be able to exert much influence from the midfield. Also, close the passing lanes such that Madrid's forward line were reduced to feed off the scrapes of long passes.

This worked to tremendous effect in the first-half when Los Leones ran the rings around their mighty rivals. Real Madrid were, for most of the time, in their own-half and at the receiving end of a barrage of attacks. Modric was snuffed out of space while Kroos had to drop deeper than usual. This rendered the midfield largely ineffective, though a tactical switch at half-time - subbing off the otherwise bright Cabellos for Casemiro - brought stability to Madrid's game.

But Bilbao's tactical schemes unsettled Lopetegui's side and deservedly took the lead through Muniain.

#3 Madrid substitutions turn the tables

Lopetegui was quick to find that he isn't going anywhere with this line-up, and responded well by taking off Cabellos for Casemiro. The Brazilian brought balance to the side which it otherwise lacked in the first-half, and also freed the likes of Kroos from their defensive duties. The German appeared more liberated after he came on.

Los Blancos shifted to a 4-1-4-1 shape and Kroos was more involved in the proceedings. Not to mention his involvement in the equaliser when he picked out Bale on the right flank with a lofting pass. That brings us to another substitute Isco, who scored the important goal tonight. The Spaniard brought urgency to the attack operating from the right side of the midfield and connected well with Bale's cross to head home a comprehensive equaliser.

Lopetegui may have come a cropper with his team and tactics today, but at least made up for his mistakes with terrific substitutions. But a little more cutting edge in the final third would've won all three points though.

#4 Simon ready to step up in Kepa's absence

Athletic Bilbao custodian Kepa Arrizabalega left for Chelsea on deadline day, and that was a great loss for the team. The Spanish shotstopper guarded the net for years now and was one of the best in the club's recent history. His boots might be too big to fill, but his replacement Unai Simon looks up for the challenge.

The 21-year old was a busy man, especially in the first-half, but stood tall and stood strong to deny everything thrown at him. As aforementioned, Real Madrid were forced to try luck from distance, but most of them were on target. However, it mattered little with Simon stopping each one of it with his iron fist. He almost conceded early on in the second-half when he spilled an Asensio free-kick and allow Ramos to try his luck from close range, but was let off by the former's brash effort.

He couldn't do much about the equaliser, but that doesn't take the gloss of the fact that he made 5 brilliant saves on the night and was literally the barrier between Real Madrid and a couple of goals. Simon is yet to register a cleansheet this term, but on this form, it won't be too far from today.

#5 An off day for Bale and Benzema

With zero shots on target, Benzema had a tough day in office

Barely three games into the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema had already done enough to soothe the frayed nerves and suggest the Portuguese won't be missed after all. The Welshman had scored in all three games before this, while his French counterpart had bagged a brace in each of the last two outings. But both fired a blank today and marked an off-day in front of the net.

Benzema was starved of service and his efforts from a distance were easily dealt with by Simon. His only real opportunity of the night was when the ball fell to him after Asensio fluffed in a one-on-one, but lashed a shot into the stands. Bale tried to work his magic from the flanks, but it won't until the second half that he truly came to life. The Welsh wizard may not have worked his magic today, but was directly involved in the equaliser when he laid a brilliant cross from the byline for Isco to head home.

So that's a goal or an assist in all four league games for him now. Not a bad start by any means. Bale and Benzema will obviously start firing again, but Real Madrid need those goals more in tough games like this. Today is a timely reminder of the same.